Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus, forcing him to abruptly cancel his plan to travel to his home state with President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One, a House Republican aide said.
Gohmert, 66, one of the House's most conservative and outspoken members, tested positive at the White House and planned to isolate, according to the aide, who was not authorized to publicly discuss Gohmert’s test result and spoke on condition of anonymity.
It was not immediately clear where Gohmert was after he left the White House.
An eight-term lawmaker, Gohmert is often seen without wearing a mask. He participated in the House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday where Attorney General William Barr testified. Before the hearing, Gohmert was seen approaching the meeting room a few feet behind Barr, with neither man wearing a mask.
During Tuesday's hearing, Committee Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler, a Democrat, scolded several Republicans including ranking member Jim Jordan for failing to wear masks.
In a Twitter posting on Wednesday, Nadler wished Gohmert a "full and speedy recovery."
Democrat House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he would consider having all House members tested as a result of Gohmert's testing positive.
"Louie Gohmert ought to quarantine himself right now," Hoyer told reporters.
Gohmert also voted Tuesday on the House floor.
He is at least the 10th member of Congress known to have tested positive for the coronavirus, which can cause COVID-19.
Republican Rand Paul in March became the first senator to contract the disease, and faced criticism from his colleagues after spending time walking maskless around the Capitol, even using its gym, while waiting for test results.
After recovering, Paul, a physician, also shunned a mask, arguing that he is now immune. Other medical professionals have said it is unclear whether a person can contract COVID-19 a second time.
This report contains material from The Associated Press and Reuters.
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